Tuesday, 29 October 2013

Hello all and I hope that you've had a good start to the week? A busy one for us - and I keep telling myself that when we've finished it'll all be worth it - but have to admit that decorating is not my favourite thing! I love the end result, with a fresh clean feel, lots of clearing out done, etc., but it's just all the hard work and upheaval in between!
A very warm welcome to my new follower - I can't believe that I've reached the 200 followers mark! I'm so delighted! So a huge thank you to you all for putting up with my waffling!
A little bit of sad news is that I made the difficult decision to step down from the Polkadoodles Design Team. I've had a fabulous time with the DT and working with Nikky Hall's fantastic crafty goodies over the last 9 or so months, but I'm struggling with time commitments at the moment (my work days having gone from 2 days a week to 5 days a week), not to mention the health niggles and problems I've had lately, so I decided that I really needed to scale back on the DT work a bit. Hopefully this will give my Mojo time to recover a bit and I can relax a little instead of stressing about getting projects done. But a big thank you to Nikky and the DT for having me!

Anyway, this evening's post has a gorgeous digi "ragged carollers" that I got a while ago from Mo's and hadn't coloured up!

I've coloured the image with a mix of copics, promarkers and Graph-its, with a little added pencil!

The red backing paper was a freebie with a magazine, and the other paper is from LOTV. I've added lots of die cuts (as usual!) - the holly corner is from Cheery Lynn, the tree is from Memory Box and the holly leaves are using Joanna Sheen's signature dies. The roses are from WOC, with a touch (or more!) of glossy accents and glamour dust. The sentiment stamp is from LOTV.

Sunday, 27 October 2013

Hello all and I hope that you've been having a good weekend? And for all those of us in the UK, I hope that the storm that is forecast for tonight and tomorrow doesn't affect you too badly! Thank you so much for all your lovely comments about Friday's card - and your good wishes about the dentist! Unfortunately it didn't go quite as planned (!) but that shouldn't be a surprise for me really lol! He was attempting to do the proper root filling needed on two teeth, but there was obviously still some infection there (must be a really stubborn little *!?*!*) so ended up having to have it dressed, and yet more antibiotics! I must have had so many antibiotics swimming around my system after the last month or so that I could probably sterilise worktops by wiping them with my hand....! Hey ho. So back again in another week or so and then it can hopefully be sorted. But as long as I'm ok for this week - I've got a week off work, and my hubby has booked a week off too, so we can make a start on some much needed decorating in our hall (not very exciting but necessary) but then hopefully have a day out later in the week, with some lunch out and some relaxation time (not as necessary but much more pleasurable!).

Today's card is unashamedly feminine! I was asked to make a card for someone's Mum, who loves flowers

The image is one from a black & white sketch pad from LOTV. It's the first time I've tried these and I was very pleased with the quality of the image and the smooth card it's printed on, very nice for colouring! I've coloured the image with copics and promarkers

The backing papers are also from LOTV 'perfect pair', with some distress inks. The flowers are from WOC and lace and pearls from stash. The birthday sentiment is also from LOTV and the 'Mum' was made with Sizzix die cut letters. I'm not too sure how well that works, but I really need a good set of stamps with 'relative' words on, e.g. Mum, Dad, Grandma, etc.! Any suggestions welcome!

And the inside decorated to match!

Hope you like it. Stay warm and dry over the next few stormy days, and don't blow over!

Friday, 25 October 2013

Hello all and I hope that you've had a great week? A quick scheduled post from me so I hope Mr Blogger is working lol! I'm off to the dentist early this morning - again! So wish me luck. And then, if all goes well, heading off to work for a last day before half term. So it'll no doubt be a busy day - but I'm looking forward to a week off (even if the most exciting thing that Mr Tilly's Crafts and Me have planned is some decorating!).

Anyway, it's time for a new challenge over at CraftyCatz and this week our lovely Anna has challenged us to use 'Spots and Stripes'

I've used the gorgeous 'Nativity Scene' from Crissys Digis over at Whimsy. I've coloured the image with promarkers

The backing papers are from Polkadoodles and I've added some lace and a charm from stash. The sentiment is from LOTV and there is a Memory Box 'precious star' - both touched up with a little gilding wax!

So do pop over to the CraftyCatz challenge and have a look at the fab creations from the DT! And join us with your spotty and stripy creations.

Thursday, 24 October 2013

Hello all and I hope that you've been having a good week? I don't feel as though my feet have touched the floor since Monday morning - but it's not long until the weekend and then a week off work for half term! Yippee! I'm loving the new job at school, but being at work 5 days a week (when before I was working 2 days!) and still having all the gang at home means that crafty time (or even relaxation time!) is somewhat limited! But I had a lovely interlude yesterday afternoon at work when I was one of the 'judges' at a Masterchef-style competition that takes place for the 3rd years at our school (i.e. 13/14 year old boys). The standard of food that they had made was fabulous - and our two top places came from a boy who'd made fish & chips with his home made beer batter which was the lightest and crispiest batter, and another boy who'd made a desert with macaroons he'd made himself, complete with a home made brandy snap basket over the top! Wow! I'm back in a couple of weeks to 'judge' some more - it's a hard job, but someone's got to do it lol!

Anyway, just a quick card from me today. This is one of those creations that I'd thought of doing, enjoyed making, but now not quite sure it works.....!

I'd embossed purple coredinations card with a snowflake embossing folder and then gently rubbed over some pearl gilding wax to highlight the 'flakes'. I then added some white and lilac ribbon, die cut snowflakes with pearly centres and a sentiment from LOTV.

As I said, I'm still not quite sure it works so I would be interested to hear what you think!

Sunday, 20 October 2013

I can't believe we're heading at super speed towards the end of October. What happened to September then? And I keep seeing countdowns to how many days to Christmas just to reinforce the point! And to add to all that, we're starting to get the odd firework going off and Tilly the Dog is so not impressed! Yesterday afternoon we had a real downpour, together with lightening and some thunder which she didn't like (and kept standing on my feet in the kitchen while I was trying to get tea ready!), and then to add to her woes, a couple of loud fireworks went off nearby in the evening which stressed her out even more. Much as I love Tilly, I do wish we didn't have this carry on every autumn! Sigh.
So what with darker nights, heating coming on, countdowns, etc., I'm starting to feel the pressure to get my backside into gear and get on with the Christmas cards! I must admit that I'm still struggling with the old Mojo a bit at the moment, and enjoying doing some needlework and crochet to relax a bit. Perhaps I'd overdosed on the cardmaking this last few months, so I needed to get a bit more 'balance' back into the crafting. I've always enjoyed trying lots of different crafty things (although perhaps that means I'm a bit of a 'Jack of all trades, master of none'!). But despite all that, I've got a little Christmas card to share with you today

I've used one of the gorgeous Whimsy Christmas sentiment digi stamps, coloured with promarkers and copics, and some distress inks. I've added a Spellbinders poinsettia die cut with some added gold gilding wax

I used a gatefold design, with the papers from LOTV, with some added distress inks.

Quite simple, but fairly flat so easier for posting!

Hope you like it. And apologies for being a bad blogger and I will try and catch up with all your crafty creations over the next day or so!

Friday, 18 October 2013

Hi and I'm back again! (Please scroll down to see my DT contribution for the CraftyCatz challenge!). It's time for a new challenge over at Polkadoodles - and this week the challenge is 'Christmas is coming'. I decided to make a treat bag and used the fabulous 'Home For Christmas' cd from Polkadoodles available HERE (and there is a fabulous 20% off at the moment!). And I've added a tutorial as to how I make the envelope treat bag onto the challenge blog - and so I'll share it on here too!

There are some fabulous little gift bags and boxes on the Home For Christmas cd from Polkadoodles, but I’d like to share how I make little gift bags from envelopes. You could even make them with used envelopes – great recycling!

I start with a C5 envelope (but you could try with all different sizes), some backing papers, toppers, ribbon, a hole punch and an edge punch

Seal down the envelope and then mark and score lines 1” from the outer edge and 1½” from the bottom edge

Trim one of the shorter ends open and then use an edge punch to add a fancy edge. Fold the central fold inwards and then fold the corners into the bottom of the bag - you may need to gently press the folds into place at the bottom!

Then decorate as you like with papers and toppers. I’ve also used the hole punch and added some ribbon and a sentiment from the cd cut into a tag shape

I hope you have a go at making an envelope gift bag - ideal for making little treat bags for some Christmas sweets and chocolates!

Good morning all and I hope you've had a good week? And it's Friday! Yippee! I seem to have had a busy week this week so hoping I get some 'me' time this weekend - and definitely need to catch up on some crafting!
It's time for a new challenge over at CraftyCatz. I had a break for a couple of weeks as I was having some problems with an infected cyst - and certainly wasn't in the mood for crafting! - so I'd like to thank my wonderful CraftyCatz team-mates for letting me have a breathing space! Anyway, this week our lovely Naomi has picked the theme of 'A Gift to Remember'. So we want to see your creations that either feature a gift on it in some form, or is actually a gift (e.g. gift box, treat bag, etc.). And we are sponsored this week by the Stamp Fairy and I've used one of their images on my card

I've coloured the image with promarkers and Graph-it pens.

The backing papers are from First Edition, and I've added some ribbon from stash. The 'gift' die is using a Sizzix die and the flower is a Spellbinders die cut, with a pearl centre.

So do pop over to the CraftyCatz challenge blog and have a look at the fantastic inspiration from the DT - they've made some wonderful creations this week! And then join us with your 'gift'!

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Hello all and how is your week going? A very warm welcome to my new follower - it's lovely to have you join me! A busy start to the week here, a busy time at work (although really enjoying it!) and the usual chaos at home! A BT man here this morning connecting us up to a new internet & phone connections - which thankfully seems to be working ok on the wireless connections but not on the main computer, so lots of huffing, puffing and sighing from husband. But I can cope with that better than the total despair that would occur if my youngest hadn't been able to connect up to the ether - a teenage boy needs to be plugged into a modem for at least part of the day to keep him functioning! Tilly the Dog is still on the silly juice. Much to her delight she found a very large hedgehog outside the back door last night - but I managed to catch her and frogmarch her firmly indoors before she tried her usual trick of picking one up! You'd think that the sharp prickles would deter her - but she's either got a very high pain threshold or really is stupid. Honesty makes me think it's probably the latter. So instead I had to don the thick gardening gloves and escort Henry the Hedgehog down the garden and encourage him to get busy on the slugs and snails down there!

Anyway, a little card to share with you today using the fabulous Home For Christmas cd from Polkadoodles

I just love these Gingerbread men and that fab paper! I made a gatefold 6" square card. The topper is from the cd and I added one of the heart embellies covered with glossy accents and I've used a Martha Stewart edge punch

The papers are all from the cd, with some added ribbon from stash and another glossy heart inside

You can get the Polkadoodles 'Home For Christmas' cd HERE - and there is currently a fabulous 20% off at the moment!

Sunday, 13 October 2013

Hello all in Blogland and I hope that your weekend has been going well? A very warm welcome to my new follower - I'm always very flattered and quite humbled when someone wants to follow my little corner of Blogland, complete with rambling posts and useless information! But I do hope that you enjoy what you find here!

First things first. Does anyone want a cat or a dog - or both? I've a stroppy cat that's decided she doesn't like the new covers on the sofa and wants us to move them all the time (although why she thinks she should automatically sit on there is another question) and wakes me up at 4am because she thinks she'll go out (although not allowed out at night) and then does something unspeakable upstairs when I refuse. And a dopey dog who keeps trying to eat grotty bits from under the bird table - can someone explain why I buy (expensive) "holistic dog food with the perfect balance of proteins, vitamins and minerals to keep your dog healthy" when she eats rubbish and drinks water from the pond.....! Not to mention the 'help' in the garden when we're trying to do things - she nearly got bits amputated yesterday when her dad was wielding a saw! Sorry, rant over. Although I did have a huff yesterday at one point and ask why the god of pet rehoming looked down and said "Ooh look, there's a gullible looking woman, we'll land her with these two gormless specimens....". Sigh.

And thank you for all your kind wishes re health! A quick update is that I saw the surgeon on Thursday and although there is a cyst he said they prefer not to operate except as a last resort, so further unpleasant treatment from the dentist is due but at least it's better than surgery (I think!). Things seem to have settled a little at the moment, so just keeping my fingers crossed!

So, apologies for yet another long-winded post, and if you've stuck with it this far, there is actually a card to show you! I was asked to make a silver wedding anniversary card so came up with this

I decided to go for a WOW (well, actually it's more an ivory on ivory!) using Centura pearl card as it's got a lovely sheen mounted onto silver mirri card. The base is embossed using Cuttlebug 'divine swirls'. The centre panel is using Spellbinders 'lattice motifs', with the sentiment printed on the computer.

The flowers are Doo Hickey 'doily flowers' with pearl centres

I've added a Memory Box 'precious heart' and some ribbon from stash.

Hope you like it!

So, apologies again for the rather long post - and I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Wednesday, 9 October 2013

Hello all and I hope that your week is going well? A busy one as usual here, a mix of appointments and work! Thank you for all your lovely comments, and I'm still working my way round everyone's blogs. I have to admit that my mojo is struggling a bit at the moment - probably a combination of being busy and being poorly! But I've tried to take a step back from things a bit and then hopefully once I'm feeling a bit better then I'll get back into my usual crafting mode.

Anyway, this is a card made for a colleague for her son's birthday - and as a typical teenage boy he loves his laptop so this Mo Manning image was perfect!

I've coloured the image with copics and promarkers, with a touch of pencil

The backing papers are from LOTV and K&Co with some added distress inks. I've used some twine and made a 'bottle cap' sentiment using a freebie from a magazine with the insert made with rub-ons on kraft card. There's some faux stitching and some metal brads.

Sunday, 6 October 2013

Hello all! I hope that you're having a good weekend, whatever you're doing! Thank you for all your kind wishes - thankfully (fingers crossed and whisper it quietly!) the infection seems to be easing off. I've still got sores in my mouth and a sore nose(!) but at least the swelling in my face has gone down a bit, so I'm assuming all the antibiotics are finally doing their stuff. The dentist and doctor think that the cyst must be somewhere above my palate and that's why, when it has become infected and swollen, it affects my mouth, nose and face. Lovely! Anyway, back at the dentist on Tuesday and then hospital on Thursday - wish me luck!

So, less whingeing about me and onto a new challenge over at Joanna Sheen! This new challenge is 'So Sweet' so this can mean either a sweet & cute image or feature something sugary sweet. Remember that anyone can enter, but if you want to be included in the £15 Joanna Sheen voucher prize draw you will need to use a Joanna product. Thankfully, I'd already coloured up this image before I was poorly (as I'm still not in full crafting mood at the moment!)

Those cute little House Mice have obviously been enjoying themselves a little too much with a cupcake! This stamp is from the HM 'Ice Cream' stamp plate HERE.

Friday, 4 October 2013

Hello all and just a quick post from me to apologise for vanishing a bit this week. Unfortunately I had an awful flare up of infection in a cyst in my upper jaw that has affected my mouth, face and nose. So with very little sleep, numerous dentist and doctors appointments, endless amounts of antibiotics and painkillers, and a face swollen up like a chipmunk, the last thing I've felt like doing is crafting! At this rate I won't need a mask for Halloween! I've got an appointment to see the surgeon at the hospital next week as the dentist and doctor think it may need surgery, so I'll let you know how things go. The Design Teams I'm on have been fantastic and very understanding, but sadly I haven't got a card to share with you today for the new challenge over at CraftyCatz! But this week is everyone's favourite challenge - Anything Goes! So do pop over to the challenge and have a look at the wonderful inspiration from the DT!

And I had a little card ready for the new challenge today over at Polkadoodles - and this week the theme is 'Autumn'.

I've used images from the gorgeous BonBon Belles cd from Polkadoodles and merged them together into a little scene. The backing papers are from the cd. I've added some twine and a button from stash and some Spellbinders 'Fall Foliage' die cut leaves.

I just love that cute little fox!

So do have a look at the fabulous inspiration from the Polkadoodles Team and join in with your Autumn creations.

Thank you for all your lovely comments - they really mean so much (especially when I've been feeling as fed up and uninspired as I have this week!). I will try to get around everyone's blogs over the next few days and see all your wonderful creative inspiration.